O’FARRELL SELLS MILLERS POINT HOUSING IN BLATANT CASH GRAB

Wednesday, 19 March 2014

The NSW Opposition has condemned the Liberal Government’s decision to sell off 293 properties in Millers Point – accusing it of putting the big end of town before the lives of local residents.

Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services Linda Burney said today that the move was a blatant cash grab done with no consultation and Minister Pru Goward could not be trusted to reinvest any proceeds in public housing.

This is because over the past year alone, the Liberal Government has
• Overseen an explosion in the public housing waiting list to 57,000 applicants - 2000 more than last year;
• Cut $42 million from the budget for public housing maintenance;
• Cut $22 million from the budget for building new housing stock;
• Built 1,000 fewer new properties than in the previous year;
• Sought to throw residents out of their properties by proposing a cruel new “bedroom tax” straight out of the UK Conservative playbook.

In addition, a report by the NSW Land and Housing Corporation shows that the O’Farrell Government has cut more than 1300 public housing properties from its books.

“This is an appalling decision by the O’Farrell Government - throwing people out of their properties just so it can grab another city tower,” Ms Burney said.

“Minister Pru Goward is selling more public housing than she is building – the reality is that she is not leaving anywhere for residents to go.

“This is a Minister who cannot be trusted to reinvest the proceeds of this sell off into public housing – not when she’s cut maintenance, cut new building stock and overseen an explosion in the waiting list.

“You’d want any such claim by Pru Goward written in triplicate.

“It’s probably best not to believe it at all.”

Shadow Minister for Housing Sophie Cotsis said: “Some of the residents of Millers Point have lived in this area all their lives and have a deep connection to the community. Many of them trace their ancestry to the pioneers of Sydney – the people who built this city. Has the Liberal Party given any thought to where they will be housed and where they will go?”
 
“The message of today is very clear – if you live in inner Sydney watch out.

“This Government has its eyes on your property – and it’s not building anywhere else for you to move either.

“Public housing residents face being banished from the inner city because Barry O’Farrell doesn’t consider them good enough to live here.”

City of Sydney Councillor Linda Scott said: My grandmother spent her formative years in Millers Point after leaving her family's country property to make a living in the City. The stories of this area are the stories of Sydney – and Mr O'Farrell's announcement today will be devastating not only for the residents, but for all who care about Sydney's heritage.”

“On Monday night, I moved an amendment calling on the City of Sydney to categorically oppose the sale of public housing in Millers Point and Dawes Point. The Lord Mayor and her supporters joined with the Liberal Councillors to defeat this motion.

“Only Labor is standing with this community to fight the sale of all public housing in the inner city.”

See: http://johnrobertson.alpnsw.prod.communityengine.com/media-2/media/o%E2%80%99farrell-sells-millers-point-housing-in-blatant-c/